Unified Key Orchestrator for IBM z/OS
An enterprise-grade design for managing cryptographic keys and artifacts with security, precision, and clarity in high-stakes enterprise environments.
Context
This project supported a highly technical IBM product dedicated to managing cryptographic artifacts across IBM z/OS. The goal was to surface key lifecycle operations without overwhelming users with the underlying complexity.
- Clarify workflows for secure key creation, rotation, and auditing.
- Present cryptographic status and controls in a way that supports high-stakes decisions.
- Maintain alignment with enterprise-grade security expectations.
Approach
I worked as the lead UX and UI designer, combining research with hands-on design to translate technical requirements into enterprise workflows. The process emphasized understanding how users manage keys across both on-premise and cloud-connected environments.
Design decisions were grounded in clarity, consistency, and strong affordances for critical security actions, with assumptions tested through stakeholder review rather than accepted at face value.
Execution
The design centered on dashboards and data views that allow users to see key status, usage, and policy compliance at a glance. I also refined detail panels and table interactions to support rapid task completion in a high-stakes environment.
Through close collaboration with engineering, security SMEs, and product stakeholders, we reduced decision friction while preserving enterprise security rigor.
Outcomes
The project resulted in a more coherent experience for cryptographic administration, improving usability for demanding enterprise users. It also established a foundation for cross-platform alignment with IBM’s broader key management ecosystem.
The outcome was not only interface clarity, but clearer decision-making across stakeholders responsible for security-critical operations.
This product is under NDA. Further implementation details are available upon request.